This session discussed the scientific parameters set to measure agricultural production in the South American Campos Biome. These parameters have been used to foster the access to land and agricultural production. The consequences on natural grasslands ecosystems are discussed. The thematic session has been organized and opened by Prof. Paulo César De Faccio Carvalho, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), who presented a thematic issue paper on Access to land, livestock production and ecosystem conservation in the Brazilian Campos Biome: the natural grasslands dilemma. Prof. Carlos Nabinger, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), spoke about the same theme focusing on the UFRGS point of view. His speech was followed by the intervention of Dr. Teresa Cristina Moraes Genro, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), who showed a view from EMBRAPA concerning the same subject. Dr. Zélia Maria de Souza Castilhos, Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária (FEPAGRO), centered her speech on the animal production with environmental responsibility. Afterwards, Dr. Leonardo Melgrejo, Instituto Nacional de Reforma Agraria (INCRA), presented INCRA point of view on access to land, livestock production and ecosystem conservation in the Brazilian Campos Biome. At last, Dr. Stella Maria Altuve, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, focused her intervention on the actual situation and the strategies for livestock production in Campos region grassland system in Argentina and Uruguay. All presentations are at disposal below.

Follow-up: An E-conference will be organized to continue the debate concerning the rural development for the Campos biome.

Optimization of agricultural production while protecting natural ecosystems: the case of southern Brazil
[Prof. Carlos Nabinger]

Access to land, livestock production and ecosystem conservation in the Brazilian Campos Biome: the natural grasslands dilema - A view from Embrapa Southern Brazil Research Center for Animal Production Systems
[Dr. Teresa Cristina Moraes Genro]

Produção animal com responsabilidade ambiental
[Dr. Zélia Maria de Souza Castilhos]

La Posición del INCRA [Dr. Leonardo Melgarejo]

Situación Actual y Estrategias para la Producción Ganadera Sustentable de los Sistemas Pastoriles del Bioma Campos en Argentina y Uruguay
[Dr. Stella Maria Altuve]